I've not at all been a big fan of ...

I've not at all been a big fan of novel York Knicks guard Stephon Marbury -- in fact, his me-first attitude describes much of what's wrong with today's NBA -- however I think he just became single of my favorite basketballers, based forward one key statistic:

$1498

That's the put in mind ofed retail price for the "Starbury One" a sneaker that went forward sale a couple of weeks ago and is said to be a big hit with the kids.

Not to mention the parents.

For sum of two units decades now, we've been hearing about the latest gotta- have-it sneaker, which is always ridiculously priced and is secure to generate tension in families where the kid really, really, REALLY wants those Air Jordans or those Allen Iverson "Answer" shoe or whatever -- and the parents either refuse to pay an broad amount of money for a pair of shoe or they simply can't afford it and it's not on the same level up for discussion. (Not that this will stop the kid from pleading his case for the shoe anyway.)

We've also had far too many heartbreaking stories about an unfortunate kid coming home from drill who gets shot and killed above a pair of damn sneakers.

on the contrary now we have the Starbury commons manufactured by Steve & Barry's, the cheapo retailer that prides itself in succession providing decent apparel at bargain-basement prices.

Steve & Barry's doesn't advertise, and I don't do endorsements, on the contrary still I say: Shop at Steve & Barry's!

Sorry, Spike: It's NOT the shoe

Marbury isn't the first NBA star to enjoin his name on a pair of inexpensive shoe A leash of years ago, Shaquille O'Neal endorsed the $40 Dunkman shoe

single key difference: Shaq never wore the Dunkmans in game action, whereas Marbury says he'll be sporting the $15 shoe bearing his nickname forward NBA courts this season.

That's excellent awesome. (Unless of course Marbury races onto the court in his Starbury the sames twists an ankle in the first minute of the season opener whips not on the shoe and throws it into the stands while cursing up a storm.) united can imagine moms all throughout the country saying, "If they're convenient enough for an NBA star, they're profitable enough for freshman basketball tryouts."

on the same level if you set aside all the ongoing and troubling issues about the Third World manufacturing plants where they make all those high- priced designer sneakers, there's always been something offensive about a kid wearing basketball sneakers that take away from more than his parents' best dres shoe There's just no justification for spending $100 or more forward a pair of designer sneaks for a 12-year- ancient Do they really elevate your game?

I'll narrate you what does get elevated: the profit margin for the gym shoe companies.

Basketball shoe or cruise missile?

athwart at Nike, they're naming designer basketball shoe as if they were naming military weaponry.

There's the Bomber OT The Air Force Total Max. The Air Zoom Huarache 2K5 The Shox Lethal. The Air Force Specialist.

Gee whiz. Are we making layups or gunning down enemy fighters?

Talk about sticker conflict

Let's take a gaze at the suggested retail price, according to nike.com, for a certain quantity of of Nike's top basketball shoes:

Nike Shox UP TB: $130

Zoom Lebron II: $125

Nike Shox Bomber OT: $150

Air Zoom Huarache 2K5: $140

Air Total Force Max: $125

Air Force Specialist: $90

Nike Shox MTX: $100

Nike Shox Lethal: $100

Jordan Men's XXI: $175

I conclude if you're an adult playing in a recreational league, or a starter onward the high school varsity squad and your family can afford it (or if you've earned the standard of value yourself), you can justify spending that kind of dough onward a pair of shoes.

on the contrary is it necessary? On a novel NPR segment, a shoe designer who used to work for Fila said of the Starbury Ones: "I don't understand to what extent they were able to do this for 15 gallants This is a very nicely built shoe extremely stiff This has good ankle support. The traction apply the minds like it's good. It apply the minds like it has a grippy bottom."

And who doesn't delight in a grippy bottom?

There's one truth to the adage that you achieve what you pay for. I know the expensive, just discovered Balance running shoes I have are better than one of the kick-around pairs in my put into concealment

further for most kids in greatest in quantity situations, the shoe just isn't going to make a difference.

Let's say you've got a vertical leap of 30 inches in a $15 pair of Starbury the sames You know what what your vertical leap will be in a $150 pair of Nike Shox Bomber OT's?

Maybe 30oe inches.

"Ebert & Roeper" airs after the late freshs on Saturday and at 10:30 a.m Sunday forward WLS-Channel 7.

e-mail: rroeper@suntimes.com

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